I'm really curious about the maintenance cost of a gas pickup. I'm having trouble figuring out what y'all are spending all your money on. I know of a pile of 1/2 ton gas trucks that only get the oil changed. Plugs somewhere at 75-125k.
I run a '17 Cummins 3500 drw. Maintenance on it sucks. Fuel filters every oil change, just the oil to do change is around $75. Fuel filters are costing around $100. Everything on these heavier trucks is more expensive. Granted this newer one seems better with the emissions stuff than the '11 I had.
Last year our trip out west we pulled the same trailer with different trucks. I had to come back early so I pulled it out and a different truck brought it back. Wasn't a heavy load but it was a 14' enclosed that is a flat nose and extra tall. Had a 3/4 ton gas pull it back east. Fuel bill was cheaper for the gas truck than my diesel. Granted we ran around 80 mph and I have 4.10 rear so rpms kill kill fuel mileage as much as anything.
From what I have been seeing fuel cost/mile are pretty even on these gas trucks compared to the diesel if not in favor of the gas now. Granted that hasn't always been the case, I'm not talking about a big block Chevy compared to a pre-emissions Cummins. But for what I'm seeing new gas 3/4 ton to new diesel 3/4 they are costing pretty even on fuel, maintenance is more on the diesel, initial purchase price is more for diesel. Better fuel mileage when heavy hauling with diesel, better resale. I'm not convinced that a diesel will be on the road longer than a gas truck anymore, there's a lot more to them than just the engines. And I have been seeing plenty 1/2 ton trucks going 3-350k now.